Chapter 15

Markus smirked at Aokiji's admission of his mistake. It was too late though. Aokiji covered his own elemental sword in Armament Haki just before it clashed with Markus's sword to block an attack. Markus was still only a 'beginner' with the sword by his systems standards but it was enough to put pressure on the Admiral.

That's not to say that Aokiji was having trouble dealing with the barrage of attacks Markus was dishing out, far from it. He wasn't an Admiral for nothing. However, for someone still in the first half of the Grand Line, Markus was exceptional and could even pressure or defeat pirates on the second half of the Grand Line.

The two continued to exchange moves with their swords before Aokiji became bored of it. He threw his free hand forward and launched a wave of ice at Markus forcing him to jump back to retreat. Markus sighed and adjusted his stance. There was no chance of him beating Aokiji in a melee fight with his current strength and speed. He couldn't do much about the strength part. As for speed...

Markus grinned and warned Aokiji, "Watch out..."

The next moment Aokiji's eyes opened wide as Markus vanished and left only a few sparks behind in his previous position. Without time to waste, Aokiji tilted his head to the side to dodge a nearly invisible attack. The next moment he spun around to see Markus standing behind him with his crackling lightning sword in hand. A small bead of blood dripped down Aokiji's cheek from a very tiny cut, hardly worse than a paper cut.

In that brief moment, Markus had dashed at Aokiji using his Lightning Speed, jumped in the air, slashed at his head, and moved past him to get behind him. Aokiji only had enough time to barely dodge the slash thanks to his strong Observation Haki warning him of danger. He couldn't see the attack or move fast enough to block it. If Markus had been going for a deadly attack, Aokiji could have potentially lost his life.

Aokiji glared at Markus, there was now a hint of wariness behind his eyes. To Aokiji, Markus was physically weak and slow. His skill with the sword was laughable. His Haki was about Vice-Admiral rank. And his Observation Haki was about the same. Yes, Aokiji had noticed the way Markus moved and came to the conclusion that he used Observation Haki while they were fighting. All of that didn't mean much, even when put together. Aokiji could eat pirates at the strength of a Vice-Admiral with ease and not break a sweat.

The problem was Markus's Devil Fruit, the Goro Goro no Mi. Though it didn't grant strength it did grant the user phenomenal speed and abilities that Aokiji couldn't really understand. Especially not in Markus's hands. That sheer speed though was a major threat. As far as Aokiji knew, only Kizaru would be able to keep up with or exceed Markus in the speed department. Akainu and himself wouldn't stand a chance at catching Markus if he decided to run. That was more than enough for Aokiji to get serious and put an end to Markus now.

Aokiji dropped his ice sword and crouched down to place his hands on the ground, "Ice..."

Seeing what was about to happen, Markus just smirked and vanished before Aokiji could finish the second syllable of his attack. The next instant, Markus was in front of the Going Merry. He lifted his hands and channeled his lightning through them, "Lightning Wall!"

Through his Haki, Markus heard Aokiji mutter the last syllable, "Age!"

Ice blasted out from Aokiji and began to cover the entire island at a rapid rate. At the same time, purple electricity shot out of Markus's hands and formed a vertical semi-circular wall to protect himself and the Merry from the encroaching ice. As the ice met the electrical wall, it burst into steam and was instantly vaporized by the heat of the electricity. The ice couldn't encroach any further toward the sea or the Merry but it still coated the rest of the island in a thick layer.

Markus smirked, "Oh, you want to play like that huh?"

Still smirking, Markus pulled four bullets out of his pocket while ignoring the shouts coming from the crew on the Going Merry. He didn't have time to pay attention to them right now. He rapidly fired the four shots off using his Railgun skill while aiming at Aokiji using his active Observation Haki. The first round was the only one coated in Armament Haki.

Aokiji was fast. Superfast. Inuhmanely fast. But he wasn't Mach 7+ fast. He barely had time to register that he was in danger with his Observation Haki, let alone move or do anything else, before the first bullet, the one coated in Armament Haki, slammed into his left shoulder. The next moment three more bullets hit him. The second pierced his other shoulder, the third pierced his right leg, while the fourth pierced his left. The bullets destroyed his limbs but without Armament Haki on them, it was only temporary. A warning.

The only deadly shot was the first, but it too was a warning as it had been shot clean through his shoulder. If his body hadn't been so monstrously powerful with ungodly endurance, his entire arm and shoulder would have been completely blown off. While the rest of his body began to reform from ice, Markus appeared nearby with a smile on his face, "I'm sure you understand my warning, Aokiji."

Aokiji gripped his bleeding shoulder with his free hand to freeze it and stop the blood loss while looking carefully at Markus. Taking his silence as confirmation, Markus continued, "This is my warning to you and the rest of the Marines and World Government. Mess with me or my friends and you won't even know how you died. We don't care about the Marines or the World Government. Don't mess with us, our friends, or our family and we won't mess with you. Come at us and... well..."

Markus lifted his hand as purple sparks of electricity shot off wildly into the air and struck the ice around him causing small steam explosions, "Am I clear?"

Markus kept an eye on Aokiji the entire time. A single bullet through the shoulder wasn't nearly enough to stop him. He paid close attention just in case Aokiji tried anything so he could flee at a moment's notice. In a melee fight, Markus knew he stood zero chance of winning but he could easily bombard Aokiji with undodgeable bullets from miles away safely. Markus had stepped into the territory of the world's greatest snipers without even intending to.

Aokiji nodded. Markus grinned in reply, "Good man. Whatever happens next is on you, the Marines, and the World Government. Just remember my words and don't test my patience. You can go now."

At his last word, Markus vanished once again and used his Lightning Speed to head to the middle of the island. He planned to watch Aokiji until he left before returning to the Going Merry. He didn't have to wait long as Aokiji wrapped his wound, got his bicycle, and use his Hie Hie no Mi's ability to make an ice road to ride on. Markus watched Aokiji ride over twenty miles away before turning around to head to the ship.

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You have defeated Admiral Kuzan (Aokiji), an opponent more than five levels above you. Experience x3,200%, +4,800,000 experience.

You have leveled up! Hit Points and Willpower fully restored. You have gained 5 attribute points.

You have leveled up! ...

You have...

You...

...

New Skill!

True Agility

[Passive]

There's fast, then there's you. Contortionists bow before your flexibility. Your accuracy is unmatched. Your every move embodies the word 'agile'.

+50% Ranged Damage

-50% Willpower cost for ranged skills

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Dozens upon dozens of notifications went off as Markus's level skyrocketed from level 73 to level 96 in an instant. Power flooded his body as he gained 23 free attribute points in every attribute at once along with a new passive skill. His available attribute points swelled from 10 to 135 instantly. It had been so long since he'd defeated someone more than five levels above him that he'd completely forgotten that the bonus experience was a thing. Even Enel hadn't been more than five levels above him. Now that he had such a high level, finding people that strong to pummel for the experience was going to be a bit more difficult.

As Markus got closer to the ship, he could see the entire crew standing on the deck of the Going Merry staring directly at him. Markus looked over at them with a deadly serious face making the tension in the air rise with each moment of silence. After letting it build, Markus grinned brightly, "He left!"

The entire crew collapsed on the deck of the ship before the more energetic ones hopped back to their feet and started yelling at Markus for scaring them. Robin was looking at Markus with a complicated expression while Nami and Chopper were checking him from head to toe for injuries. Luffy was giving Markus a complicated look. He knew he couldn't beat Aokiji, it was literally impossible for him to win against him at the moment. If he knew a trick like using Water against Crocodile or being rubber against Enel, then maybe he could put up a fight. With nothing though... all he could do was lose. He didn't like that.

As far as Markus having a bounty that was almost double his own, Luffy didn't care. All that meant was that Markus was powerful and that he needed to get stronger to earn a bigger bounty for himself. There wasn't even a hint of jealousy. How could he be jealous? Markus had been trying to teach them how to be stronger from the beginning. It was up to them to make the most of what they were being taught. No, Luffy was just more determined than ever seeing how strong Markus was.

After everyone calmed down and Markus had narrated the story of his fight against Aokiji, Markus looked at Nami, "Is the next island locked in?"

Nami checked her log pose and shook her head, "Not yet."

"I guess that means we're waiting here for a few days."

After speaking, Markus activated his Observation Haki and checked for Foxy's ship. He grumbled to himself when he couldn't find it in range. He'd lost track of the Noro Noro no Mi! Damn Aokiji Devil Fruit blocking him. There wasn't much he could do about it but Markus would keep an eye out for news on Foxy and hopefully track him down to steal the fruit later.

Dinner was a subdued affair for the crew as they contemplated the strength they'd seen from Aokiji. The entire island was still covered in ice and wouldn't be melting anytime soon. Robin was a bit more cheerful thanks to not hearing the poisonous words of Aokiji. Markus couldn't help but wonder how his actions would change the immediate future, if they would at all.

Once dinner was over, Markus found a comfortable spot and opened his system. It was time for an upgrade. He needed more... everything. After thinking for a moment, Markus upped his Vitality to exactly 200 points, the threshold for gaining an attribute related passive skill.

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True Vitality

[Passive]

Your body is your temple. Let them worship as well.

Hit Point recovery time reduced by 50%.

Hit Point recovery rate reduced by 50%.

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Next, he turned his attention to his Wisdom attribute. It was the only one to not breach through the 200 mark yet and the last one he could increase with his attribute points. His Charisma and Luck only went up through random events or by increasing his level. However, it would take him 34 attribute points to get it to 200. He wasn't sure if he wanted to spend that many points to increase it. He debated with himself for a while before muttering, "Fuck it."

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True Wisdom

[Passive]

Wisdom comes in many forms. For you, it comes in the form of knowing yourself the best. Knowing when to fight and when to rest. Knowing every cell of your body. Your body has gained some of your Wisdom as well.

+25% Hit Point recovery rate

+25% Willpower recovery rate

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Markus nodded in approval. With all of the passives now active he could fight much longer and hit much harder. He was still left with 95 attribute points and thought about how he should distribute them. Now that he had the Goro Goro no Mi his fighting style could evolve in unexpected directions. He enjoyed brawling and fighting face to face but it wasn't always the best option against stronger opponents. He also wanted to increase his pool of Willpower points... Markus rubbed his head in frustration before spending his attribute points with yet another, "Fuck it!"

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Name: Silvers D. Markus

Age: 16

Class: Wanted Pirate (125m)

Level: 96

Exp: 11,420,283/11,520,000

Hit Points: 2,190/ 2,190 (+82.6/30 Seconds) [3,060/ 3,060 (+123.9/30 seconds)]

Willpower: 2,950/ 2,950 (+107.6/30 seconds) [4,130/ 4,130 (+160/30 seconds)]

Strength (STR): 265 [371]

Vitality (VIT): 219 [306]

Agility (AGI): 225 [315]

Spirit (SPT): 295 [413]

Wisdom (WIS): 219 [306]

Charisma (CHA): 121 [169]

Luck (LCK): 108 [151]

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After looking over his attributes one last time, Markus closed his character sheet and sighed. He switched to the shop tab and after buying out everything in the materials tab, he moved to the skills tab to take a look. The skill for sale was once again Electro, the same skill he saw back in Alabasta, so he ignored it. He flipped to his inventory and retrieved the Rare Weapon Token to give it a try once again. He'd almost forgotten about it. He activated it and looked through the 20 options presented to him. Eighteen of the options were swords, so he ignored them and focused on the last two.

The first gun looked like an upgraded version of his current .44 Caliber Flintlock Revolver. It upped the caliber to .50 and seemed to be built of sturdier materials. That's all he could tell from the image and name of the weapon. The other one looked more like a typical flintlock but the name of the gun caught his attention, 'The Devil's Flintlock'. It was mostly solid black with silvery-metal accents. With no description to go on, buying it would be a leap of faith. One he was willing to take. Thanks to his current quest he would be getting another Rare Weapon Token so if the gun was a dud, he could try again. He wasted no time and exchanged the token for 'The Devil's Flintlock'.

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The Devil's Flintlock

Item Level 100

Flintlock

Damage: ---

Features: Fires bullets composed of the compressed energy of compatible Devil Fruits.

Description: A complex, almost magical, flintlock created by an unknown inventor to be used by wielders of various Devil Fruits. The user can channel the power of their Devil Fruit into the flintlock which will compress the energy into a bullet. The process of firing the bullet and its subsequent damage and effect is based on the user's Devil Fruit.

Requirements: The user must possess a Devil Fruit capable of outputting some form of energy.

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Reading over the description of the flintlock brought a broad smile to Thomas's face. Finally! He had a gun that showed some real potential! Granted, he didn't technically need a gun anymore since he was a literal railgun himself. Still, it was the principal of the thing and he thought guns looked cool! As soon as the flintlock appeared inside of his inventory, Markus closed his eyes and activated his Image Training.

Within the internal world of his Image Training, Markus chose his favorite townscape setting and summoned a dozen Marine peons. Once they appeared he pulled out the flintlock and examined it in full. It didn't look all that different in form from a regular flintlock, however, its mechanisms were far more complicated and complex. He had no idea what the internals looked like or even what metal the parts were made of. If he didn't know it was special he would only be able to see it as a mostly black flintlock with all the mechanical parts shining silver.

He hefted it a bit and admired the weight of the weapon, it weighed at least four times as much as the revolver while only being slightly bigger. The wood and metal it was made from must be pretty dense materials. Once he finished looking over the flintlock he looked at the dozen marines constantly shooting their rifles at him. Was it weird that he was so used to being shot at this point that he barely even registered it anymore?

Markus lifted the flintlock and channeled a single use of his Lightning Bolt skill into the flintlock. Purple electricity flickered around the metalwork of the flintlock while the interior of the barrel began to glow with purple light. Markus let it sit for a moment before pulling the trigger. Once he did there was a loud 'crack' sound as a small purple glowing bullet was fired out of the flintlock. The bullet whipped through the air and blasted a hole clean through the Marine he targeted.

Markus looked over the revolver and thought about the damage the shot had done. When used on its own the Lightning Bolt skill did what anyone would expect, it launched a bolt of lightning at the target. The lightning bolt would electrocute and burn the target and that was about it. Once it was compressed inside of the flintlock though, it gained a 'hardness' to it and could penetrate targets with ease.

He cocked the hammer of the flintlock and charged it with another Lightning Bolt and fired it again. This time he tried rapid-firing the flintlock and was impressed with the results. The moment he channeled his Lightning Bolt into the gun it was ready to fire. He essentially had a semi-automatic handgun with unlimited ammo! As another test during his rapid-fire shooting, he shot the ground near one of the marines. The lightning bullet penetrated the ground before exploding. Dirt, stone, and bolts of electricity exploded out of the ground and hit the nearby targets.

A huge grin split Markus's face, "Oh yeah, I like this."